By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger A city panel has strongly backed a local organization’s bid to seek state funding for a family homeless shelter in Rutland. The Board of Aldermen’s Community and Economic Development Committee at a recent meeting unanimously approved a request from the Homeless Prevention Center in Rutland to allow Mayor David Allaire…

Rutland City Fire Department,  GMP win first Lip Sync Battle By Polly Lynn Mikula UPDATE, MAY 10: The event raised over $16,000 for Wonderfeet Kid's Museum. On Saturday night, April 29, eight teams battled it out at the inaugural Lip Sync Battle at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland. Funds raised at the event benefited Wonderfeet Kids’…

By Robin Alberti Cristy Murphy found her calling in teaching kids yoga. With a background in elementary education, she was introduced to yoga by her teaching partner at Barstow School, and she immediately saw the benefits of teaching it to kids. Giving students the opportunity to move their bodies and relax their minds during a…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache Moments before the House was to take up an amendment that would have moved teacher health care negotiations to the state level, the bill was pulled from the floor. House Minority Leader Don Turner, R-Milton, said he pulled the amendment because the Democratic majority planned to send the school tax bill…

By Susan Durant Vermont had the highest incidence of Lyme disease in the U.S. in 2013 and, 2015, and the incidence for 2016 should be similar, said Bradley Tompkins, a vector borne epidemiologist at the Vermont Department of Health (VDH). The VDH website lists over 380 confirmed cases of Lyme disease since 2011, which is up…

KILLINGTON—The Killington Pico Area Association (KPAA) has hired a new staff member in time for the busy summer season. Alexis King, from Pittsfield, Mass., is filling the role of membership and events assistant. After growing up in the hills of Berkshire County, Mass., she moved to the North Shore of Boston to study communications at…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger Rutland City Fire Chief Michael Jones said he is considering quitting his job due to lack of support from the city’s new mayor. “We look at things differently, I would say,” Jones said Tuesday, April 25, of his relationship with Mayor David Allaire, elected to the post in March. “Where…

By Evan Johnson and Julia Purdy Delays are expected this week as road work including drainage and milling is scheduled to continue on Route 4 this week. The project is scheduled to last through this spring and summer and covers a distance of roughly 14 miles between the Rutland-Mendon town line and Mission Farm Road…

Always the first Saturday in May, Green Up Day this year is May 6. Volunteers come together to clean up litter from roadsides and public spaces to help keep Vermont green and clean. Vermont’s interstates and state highways, totaling some 2,707 miles, are cleaned each spring by Vermont’s Agency of Transportation. Community volunteers through Green…

RUTLAND—Rutland Blooms is planning its most ambitious crop of city beautification projects yet, and will kick off the spring season by planting 46 crabapple trees and nine maple trees, May 11. The kickoff event will include planting  nearly four dozen crabapple trees along Harrington Avenue in front of St. Joseph’s Cemetery, and nine “Sunset Red”…

RUTLAND—College of St. Joseph has announced that former Vermont Governor Jim Douglas will deliver the commencement address at the college’s graduation ceremony on May 13. Douglas was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in November 1972, where he would become the House majority leader during his third two-year term at just 25 years old.…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger The Senate Thursday, April 27, gave preliminary approval to a bill that will raise property taxes. The proposal transfers $8 million of the state’s annual contribution for teachers’ retirement from the general fund to the education fund. That shift frees up money for child care, state colleges and the mental…

KILLINGTON—The umbrella bars at the base of Superstar at Killington Resort are a hot spot for spring skiers and riders. This past weekend the venue hosted the Dazed and Defrosted event Saturday, April 22, which includee on-snow demos, a photo booth and live music. Since the event shared the day with Earth Day, it was…

By Evan Johnson  Spread out among 17 tracts in the woods around Mendon, 150 acres of red pine are coming down this year.  The trees are being removed due to red pine scale, an invasive species that preys on the coniferous trees. “If they’re not harvested they’ll lose value and become a fire hazard,” said…

RUTLAND—For 4-Hers from seven clubs in Bennington and Rutland Counties, April 14 was an action-packed night. Southwest Regional 4-H Night, held at Rutland High School, provided an opportunity for them to demonstrate what they have learned in University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H projects and club activities. At stake was the chance to continue on…